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The Lure
From the bestselling author of the Daughters of the Moon series comes a gritty, sexy novel about a teen who is forced to become a "lure"-a beautiful girl who is used to lure victims of gang violence.
Fifteen-year-old Blaise Montgomery lives in the gritty outskirts of Washington, DC, where a stray bullet can steal a life on the way to school. Drugs and violence are the only ways to survive, so Blaise and her friends turn to gangs for safety, money, and love. When Blaise is invited to join Core 9, one of the most infamous crews, she jumps at the chance. Though her best guy friends, Rico and Satch, warn her about the danger, she agrees to be beaten for a minute straight as part of the gang's initiation ritual.
Now Blaise is finally part of a crew. A family.
But things get only more dangerous when she becomes a member of Core 9 and tensions with a rival gang heat up. Trek, the head of Core 9, asks Blaise to be his "lure," the sexy bait he'll use to track down enemy gang members and exact revenge. Rico and Satch tell her it's a death sentence, but Blaise can't resist the money and unparalleled power. As Trek puts Blaise in increasingly dangerous situations, she begins to see that there's more to lose than she ever realized-including Satch, the one person who has the power to get under her skin. With death lurking around every corner, should Blaise continue to follow the only path she's ever known, or cut and run?
Fifteen-year-old Blaise Montgomery lives in the gritty outskirts of Washington, DC, where a stray bullet can steal a life on the way to school. Drugs and violence are the only ways to survive, so Blaise and her friends turn to gangs for safety, money, and love. When Blaise is invited to join Core 9, one of the most infamous crews, she jumps at the chance. Though her best guy friends, Rico and Satch, warn her about the danger, she agrees to be beaten for a minute straight as part of the gang's initiation ritual.
Now Blaise is finally part of a crew. A family.
But things get only more dangerous when she becomes a member of Core 9 and tensions with a rival gang heat up. Trek, the head of Core 9, asks Blaise to be his "lure," the sexy bait he'll use to track down enemy gang members and exact revenge. Rico and Satch tell her it's a death sentence, but Blaise can't resist the money and unparalleled power. As Trek puts Blaise in increasingly dangerous situations, she begins to see that there's more to lose than she ever realized-including Satch, the one person who has the power to get under her skin. With death lurking around every corner, should Blaise continue to follow the only path she's ever known, or cut and run?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2014
14 people are currently reading
1092 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Ewing
48 books861 followersLynne Ewing is an American author and a screen writer.
She always had to move around a lot when she was growing up because her father was in the Marine Corps. She has two sisters. Lynne graduated from high school in Lima, Peru after attending seven other schools. While she was in Peru, she learned to speak Spanish. She attended the University of California at Santa Barbara. When she was 30 years old, she began writing for newspapers, documentaries, magazines, and did screen writing. She also counsels troubled teens. Her first books were Drive-By and Party Girl. Drive-By took six years to write, and Party Girl has been made into a movie called Living the Life. She has written the completed Daughters of the Moon and Sons of the Dark series. She lives in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.. Ms. Ewing has two children, Jonathan, a molecular biologist, and Amber, an international lawyer. She has also traveled to Japan, China, Russia, Europe, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. She has begun a new series called Sisters of Isis.
She always had to move around a lot when she was growing up because her father was in the Marine Corps. She has two sisters. Lynne graduated from high school in Lima, Peru after attending seven other schools. While she was in Peru, she learned to speak Spanish. She attended the University of California at Santa Barbara. When she was 30 years old, she began writing for newspapers, documentaries, magazines, and did screen writing. She also counsels troubled teens. Her first books were Drive-By and Party Girl. Drive-By took six years to write, and Party Girl has been made into a movie called Living the Life. She has written the completed Daughters of the Moon and Sons of the Dark series. She lives in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.. Ms. Ewing has two children, Jonathan, a molecular biologist, and Amber, an international lawyer. She has also traveled to Japan, China, Russia, Europe, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. She has begun a new series called Sisters of Isis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 8, 2014
Imagine you live in the worst part of your city/town (for me that would be the Jane and Finch area) where there are multiple gangs, constant drive-bys that leave many innocent people killed just by going to the park, and drug addicts and criminals are everywhere you turn. Pretty freaky stuff, right? Well, Lynn Ewing thinks that it's too scary because she adds such unrealistic stupidity that this novel turns into a complete joke.
How, You might ask? Well, I'll break this review up and go through everything that makes this novel so horribly stupid.
The setting: Whenever you see people who live in said neighbourhood they most likely talk differently with improper grammar and made up words, Ya nah' I mean? So, of course when I started this novel I thought I would be getting some of this ghetto slang and tons of action, but everyone speaks perfect English and not very many people die and the action is limited and boring.
Characters: Everyone is stupid. Everyone is boring. Even with the setting and how unrealistic it all is, the things many characters do are out of stupidity. Rico has to be one of the dumbest characters in The Lure after Blaise because of the fact that he lets his emotions get the best of him. I don't want to spoil anything but his whole act of 'sacrifice' is too dramatic and frankly, too late for me to change my impression of him. Oh, did I mention that they're all beautiful? Because they are. Every single one and Blaise is the smoking hot gun that everyone wants.
Now, onto Blaise.
Blaise wants to be loved. She wants to get out of the ghetto but doubts she ever will so she joins a gang. She's a great fighter because she never backs down. She goes around with her two best friends (who are absolutely gorgeous) Satch and Rico to do everything. She's beautiful, a real show stopper which is why she's chosen to be the gang's new 'lure'. Which is just someone who lures enemies into their territory/let their guard down so that her gang (Core 9) can beat the shit out of them. Again, she's beautiful. But she really is an idiot who makes Bella Swan and Luce fucking Price seem bearable. Just reading about her made me want to scream and yell. She does many things that could jeopardize the relationship between her friends, yet she doesn't even care. At all.
Not only are all of the characters beautiful and more boring than watching cement dry, but the whole gang in general felt very forced to me. I had expected more of a 'family' because Blaise keeps throwing this word around yet, only once is the whole gang together. Some people randomly meet with Blaise and Rico and Satch but not for long.
The romance: After the first chapter, I knew that the romance was going to get on my nerves. The whole love triangle is confusing, stupid, and unnecessary. There are many times where it could have been improved and things could have been clear. The Lure is probably the only novel that I've read where the choice between whom the girl likes more or whom she'll end up with is annoyingly unclear and I stopped caring very quickly.
The Lure is just really bad. Nothing is explained properly, the characters are boring, and just because of the setting readers are forced to believe something that isn't realistic nor is it engaging. I understand that gangs and living in the Ghetto are horrible and even though I will never live there, I have spoken and met people from bad neighbourhoods, and just... THIS IS SO UNREALISTIC AND I'M PISSED.
January 24, 2014
This and other reviews can be found on Reading Between Classes
Title: The Lure
Author: Lynne Ewing
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins)
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Rating: 4/5
Cover Impressions: Interesting, I think they could have made better use of the graffiti element and the color is a little hard on the eyes.
The Gist: Blaise Montgomery has built a reputation for being fearless in the face of danger. Living with her grandmother on little more than welfare and social security has left her longing for a different life and a family that can protect her from the dangers of the neighborhood. She finds that in Core 9 a fearsome gang that promises to open up a new world for her. Blaise faces a brutal initiation and is quickly chosen to act as bait for rival gang members so that Trek, the head of Core 9 can exact his revenge. This new position offers her prestige and power, but also places her in a dangerous situation from which she may not escape.
Review:
I read this book in a day. With a 2 1/2 year old running around. That is serious high praised. I was shocked when I went on Goodreads to see the low reviews and from people who claimed that they didn't understand why these characters made the choices that they did. I don't think that assessment is fair. Yes, you hear stories about kids who grow up in these kinds of neighborhoods that escape the violence and make a better life for themselves but, do you know why they are such compelling stories? Because they don't happen very often. The characters in The Lure were faced with a limited set of choices and a life that kept dealing them one hard blow after another. The more I learned about each girl's set of circumstances, the more saddened I became.
The Lure features some pretty gritty scenes of violence. I was very interested to see this portrayal of gang life from a female's perspective and that it featured the different initiations and roles that females could take on. I do wish that there had been more development to show why girls do join these gangs. As a reader, I suspected where the plot was headed eventually, but we did not have a great deal of time between Blaise's initiation and her being thrown into a very violent situation, in order to see the prestige and perks that would have drawn her to this life in the first place.
I also wish there was a little more character development. This might have been accomplished by alternating the narration among the four girls. I truly felt for each one of them and their situation, but I would have liked to know more about them personally. Ditto with the two love interests. I loved the scenes between Blaise and Satch and was genuinely rooting for a happy ending for the two of them. Speaking of endings, I did find this one to be a little anti-climactic. There was a great deal of running from place to place followed by a choice that I never really expected these characters to make and one that left me questioning what the repercussions would be.
Overall, The Lure offered a gritty glimpse into gang life and the sense of hopelessness that overtakes many of those thrust into that life. It has some flaws, but is certainly worth a read.
Teaching/Parental Notes:
Age: 16 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: Kissing, Talk of sex
Violence: Gunplay, Knifeplay, Intimidation, Rape and Gang Rape
Inappropriate Language: Bitch
Substance Use/Abuse: Underage Drinking, Selling and use of Drugs
January 8, 2014
The Lure and I went through a tumultuous relationship. I started out in love with it and that love slowly declined as the novel went on, eventually leading me to be pretty angry at where we ended up. See, in the beginning it was gritty, authentic and raw, but by the end I didn’t know if I was reading a contemporary novel or the screenplay for a daytime soap opera.
As the novel starts out we meet Blaise and her friends Melissa, Ariel and Kaylee as they are making their way home one night. The atmosphere is set right from the beginning and we realize that these girls don’t come from a good neighbourhood. Seeing a group of people drinking on a stoop and then hiding in the trees while a car rolls down the street with the headlights off presumably in the midst of a drive-by shooting lends a definitely feeling of uneasiness. I felt this novel, I really did. I saw a lot of reviews from people that thought Blaise was dumb for wanting to join a gang but I thought the novel did a good job of painting the picture and enforcing that this is just the way of life where these girls live. Growing up and joining the local gang was like being initiated into royalty for them. Along with initiation came respect, money and a way at surviving the rough streets they live on.
The characters in the novel weren’t really ones that I could relate to, but because the author did a really good job at vividly describing the setting and lifestyle I found myself emotionally invested in them. Blaise’s intense need to provide a better life for her grandmother made me sad as she had a sugar packet for breakfast just so her grandmother could eat. I understood why she was making the choices that she was making, even though I didn’t agree with them. I also found myself invested in her relationships with Satch and Rico. These three knew everything about each other and sure their little three way friendship looked weird from the outside but they all looked out for each other so I found some of the happenings in the novel crushing and did drop a tear here and there.
What didn’t work as the novel wore on was how dramatic, to the point of bordering on unrealistic, things got in the end. I started to feel less like I was reading a gritty story about street kids and more like I was watching a soap opera unfold on TV. Ewing did a fantastic job of writing the action scenes and getting my heart pumping but the conveniences that occurred started to make the novel feel less authentic. Along with the conveniences, some of the dialogue started to feel awkward and forced in these dire situations Blaise was finding herself in. I’m not sure if my mood had just changed in the final chapters of the novel but things really shifted and it took my enjoyment of the novel down a few pegs.
This is still an intense story and a look at a world that I have never encountered in YA. While I’m not happy with every aspect of how it plated out, I think this is a worthwhile read for anyone looking for a contemporary with some edge to it.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
As the novel starts out we meet Blaise and her friends Melissa, Ariel and Kaylee as they are making their way home one night. The atmosphere is set right from the beginning and we realize that these girls don’t come from a good neighbourhood. Seeing a group of people drinking on a stoop and then hiding in the trees while a car rolls down the street with the headlights off presumably in the midst of a drive-by shooting lends a definitely feeling of uneasiness. I felt this novel, I really did. I saw a lot of reviews from people that thought Blaise was dumb for wanting to join a gang but I thought the novel did a good job of painting the picture and enforcing that this is just the way of life where these girls live. Growing up and joining the local gang was like being initiated into royalty for them. Along with initiation came respect, money and a way at surviving the rough streets they live on.
The characters in the novel weren’t really ones that I could relate to, but because the author did a really good job at vividly describing the setting and lifestyle I found myself emotionally invested in them. Blaise’s intense need to provide a better life for her grandmother made me sad as she had a sugar packet for breakfast just so her grandmother could eat. I understood why she was making the choices that she was making, even though I didn’t agree with them. I also found myself invested in her relationships with Satch and Rico. These three knew everything about each other and sure their little three way friendship looked weird from the outside but they all looked out for each other so I found some of the happenings in the novel crushing and did drop a tear here and there.
What didn’t work as the novel wore on was how dramatic, to the point of bordering on unrealistic, things got in the end. I started to feel less like I was reading a gritty story about street kids and more like I was watching a soap opera unfold on TV. Ewing did a fantastic job of writing the action scenes and getting my heart pumping but the conveniences that occurred started to make the novel feel less authentic. Along with the conveniences, some of the dialogue started to feel awkward and forced in these dire situations Blaise was finding herself in. I’m not sure if my mood had just changed in the final chapters of the novel but things really shifted and it took my enjoyment of the novel down a few pegs.
This is still an intense story and a look at a world that I have never encountered in YA. While I’m not happy with every aspect of how it plated out, I think this is a worthwhile read for anyone looking for a contemporary with some edge to it.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
October 5, 2013
2.5 stars
The Lure deals with some pretty serious and realistic issues. That’s what piqued my interest when I first heard about the novel. Unfortunately, things didn’t come together for me. While the writing is good, it lacked a certain depth for me. These characters were going through some tough things and the plot kept thickening, but I wasn’t moved by it. And when I read books like this, I need to be invested or the story isn’t going to work for me.
On top of that, I had a hard time really connecting with the characters. Blaise, Melissa, Ariel Rico …the things they did …just one stupid thing after another. And initially, I got their motivation. Then, as the story progresses I couldn’t help, but wonder why none of them fought a little harder in the way of academics and working. I didn’t understand why getting jumped into the gang was the best option, especially since it pretty much failed on all fronts. Every reason established for why they were doing it doesn’t hold up as the story unfolds. Maybe I could have even blamed it on their home life, but . Kaylee and Satch had a lot of potential though, but the story was too packed and short for them to live up to it.
All of this leads to one of the most important issues with this book, development. I feel like the writing went from one extreme to another and this is the main reason why I couldn’t get into the characters. The plot needed to be more ….consistent in terms of motivations. For instance, if I’m reading that our main character is joining a gang for the security, then I need a least a few chapters showcasing that. The writing also doesn’t do a good job establishing the traits of the characters. I don’t really know how I’d describe any of them. We’re told that Blaise is tough and the writing illustrates that a few times, but what else is she? Is she smart? What does she look like? Most importantly, the plot just felt all over the place and the ending unsatisfying.
All in all, The Lure wasn’t a bad book. It’s just not a book that does a great job weaving together a fictional story that deals with real life issues. I don’t know if I’d recommend this title to those looking for a memorable contemporary read.
The Lure deals with some pretty serious and realistic issues. That’s what piqued my interest when I first heard about the novel. Unfortunately, things didn’t come together for me. While the writing is good, it lacked a certain depth for me. These characters were going through some tough things and the plot kept thickening, but I wasn’t moved by it. And when I read books like this, I need to be invested or the story isn’t going to work for me.
On top of that, I had a hard time really connecting with the characters. Blaise, Melissa, Ariel Rico …the things they did …just one stupid thing after another. And initially, I got their motivation. Then, as the story progresses I couldn’t help, but wonder why none of them fought a little harder in the way of academics and working. I didn’t understand why getting jumped into the gang was the best option, especially since it pretty much failed on all fronts. Every reason established for why they were doing it doesn’t hold up as the story unfolds. Maybe I could have even blamed it on their home life, but . Kaylee and Satch had a lot of potential though, but the story was too packed and short for them to live up to it.
All of this leads to one of the most important issues with this book, development. I feel like the writing went from one extreme to another and this is the main reason why I couldn’t get into the characters. The plot needed to be more ….consistent in terms of motivations. For instance, if I’m reading that our main character is joining a gang for the security, then I need a least a few chapters showcasing that. The writing also doesn’t do a good job establishing the traits of the characters. I don’t really know how I’d describe any of them. We’re told that Blaise is tough and the writing illustrates that a few times, but what else is she? Is she smart? What does she look like? Most importantly, the plot just felt all over the place and the ending unsatisfying.
All in all, The Lure wasn’t a bad book. It’s just not a book that does a great job weaving together a fictional story that deals with real life issues. I don’t know if I’d recommend this title to those looking for a memorable contemporary read.
March 5, 2014
I wasn't so sure about The Lure when I first heard of it, especially since the character already felt a bit naive and idiotic when the synopsis says that Rico and Satch warn her about the dangers (also it sort of reminds you of a love triangle right?) I was definitely wary and didn't really plan on reading it, but I got a copy and one thing lead to another...
And well, I'm so glad I took a chance!
Gritty is sort of an understatement for this book, where gang life is pretty much the only life--literally. In YA you'll see mentions of gangs where they're evil, someone caught up in gang life and desperate to get out, but I've never seen a book where a character strives to get in and thinks of it as a safety zone, and that's one of the things about The Lure. I'm probably one of the least qualified to know, but Blaise's situation struck me as heart achingly true and completely possible for anyone.
Blaise and her friends were naive and they were impulsive and they did make shitty decisions. But they were all understandable with their situations and they were portrayed in a desperate light where none of them really had a choice, and I pitied them.
Blaise, specifically though, didn't really seem to care about her friends in the latter part of the book. She did things behind her friends back and never really gave a crap about how her decisions would affect them unless it pushed the story forward.
I also wish that we'd seen more of her friends' situations and their own story lines throughout the story because, honestly, Blaise seemed to get herself into trouble most of the times while her friends had all been manipulated or pretty much forced into their situations.
The romance isn't really focused on throughout the story and I wouldn't necessarily SAY there was a love triangle, but there was definitely something. I'm not too sure I'm happy with the way it ended, but I'm glad it wasn't a love triangle at least!
The Lure is unlike so many books I've read before and while I was a bit out of my comfort zone, I still loved the gritty atmosphere, the desperate characters, and the wrenching story of no way out. I'd definitely recommend it if you're a lover of contemporary! (Gritty or otherwise.)
And well, I'm so glad I took a chance!
Gritty is sort of an understatement for this book, where gang life is pretty much the only life--literally. In YA you'll see mentions of gangs where they're evil, someone caught up in gang life and desperate to get out, but I've never seen a book where a character strives to get in and thinks of it as a safety zone, and that's one of the things about The Lure. I'm probably one of the least qualified to know, but Blaise's situation struck me as heart achingly true and completely possible for anyone.
Blaise and her friends were naive and they were impulsive and they did make shitty decisions. But they were all understandable with their situations and they were portrayed in a desperate light where none of them really had a choice, and I pitied them.
Blaise, specifically though, didn't really seem to care about her friends in the latter part of the book. She did things behind her friends back and never really gave a crap about how her decisions would affect them unless it pushed the story forward.
I also wish that we'd seen more of her friends' situations and their own story lines throughout the story because, honestly, Blaise seemed to get herself into trouble most of the times while her friends had all been manipulated or pretty much forced into their situations.
The romance isn't really focused on throughout the story and I wouldn't necessarily SAY there was a love triangle, but there was definitely something. I'm not too sure I'm happy with the way it ended, but I'm glad it wasn't a love triangle at least!
The Lure is unlike so many books I've read before and while I was a bit out of my comfort zone, I still loved the gritty atmosphere, the desperate characters, and the wrenching story of no way out. I'd definitely recommend it if you're a lover of contemporary! (Gritty or otherwise.)
January 26, 2014
To see my full review:
http://abookvacation.com/2014/02/06/a...
I have been extremely fortunate in life having grown up in a safe neighborhood with two loving parents that supported me in everything. I never had to worry for my safety when walking out the door, didn’t need to look over my shoulder at school, never had to know alternate routes to get home, worry about gunshots at all hours of the day, or whether there would be enough money coming in for my parents to pay the bills. I knew where my next meal was coming from, what colleges I wanted to go to, how I would pay for my education after high school, and that I could obtain my goals in life without much standing in my way.
Blaise Montgomery doesn’t live in a safe neighborhood. Her mother is a drug addict, her father is dead, and her grandmother works late hours and brings home little money. Leaving her house is a risky choice, day in and day out. In order to stay alive, Blaise has to know multiple ways around her community in case the ever present dangers of gang violence close off a route, or two. She has to know what hallways she can walk down and what stairwells to avoid in school if she wants to get home in one piece, with her virginity still intact. She worries about her grandmother who works too hard and doesn’t have enough money to feed Blaise, let alone herself. Blaise would love to go to college, but can barely scrape by in school because survival is on her mind 24/7. The present is all that matters, and she knows, just like everyone else in her neighborhood, that life ends all too soon. She’s seen people try to better themselves, try to get out, but most of them end up in body bags. So what’s the point?
While I have never experienced any of what Blaise experiences, the cold hard truth is that many, many children grow up in this exact environment, and as a high school teacher working on the cusp of the city, I’ve taught many of students in a similar situation. I didn’t used to know these places really existed, not until I became a teacher. If you don’t experience it, or you don’t know someone who has, it’s very easy to live in a bubble that just understand that there are many struggling to survive. And it’s a heartbreaking experience to realize that yes, this is real. Just because I haven’t lived it doesn’t mean it’s not. And while it’s easy to look down on people in these situations, saying they need to get an education, that they need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, that’s not a reality. What’s more important? Education or food? Education or life? Education or belonging?
If you look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, you’ll note that physiological needs come first, and then that of safety. People need to have their basic needs met—food, water, excretion, sleep— before they can move up the scale. If these needs are met, then safety takes over. Those who don’t feel safe on a regular basis are, therefore, unable to move up the scale. They’re unable to have true friendships, or focus on family, because the very real fear for their safety controls everything they do and think. This explains exactly what Blaise is dealing with on a very real level. She barely has any food—she’s hungry a lot of the time, and she’s scared for her safety. Her need level has plateaued between Physiological and Safety. But once she’s part of a gang, once she’s found her “family,” she’s able to move up to the Love and Belonging stage—a stage she’s been yearning to grasp for some time. So it’s no surprise that she joins a gang in her neighborhood—a gang that literally beats her into it as their hazing ritual to see if she’s tough enough to stand within their ranks. And it makes me sick, but I’ve found that this hazing experience is another truth in terms of gang life—one I first heard about when discussing life with my students over the past few years.
Within Core 9, Blaise fits in, and now she can begin to work towards self-esteem, confidence, achievement… except being in the gang doesn’t guarantee extreme safety, and as Blaise realizes fairly quickly, there is just as much to fear inside a gang than there is outside of it. So, she finds herself hovering between the Safety and Love/Belonging stage in the Hierarchy of Needs. Is it any wonder, then, that Blaise can’t focus on school? That she can’t foresee herself ever getting out of her ghetto alive, let alone bettering herself and going to college? While we may want to judge her, especially as the media likes to focus on the few amazing stories of those who “got out,” who “pulled themselves up by their boot straps,” this isn’t that story. This is the story of the many who are left behind. This is the story of those who can’t get out.
Of course, Blaise makes decisions that I hat—and so do her friends. Of course, I wanted to knock “some sense” into them as I read, to scream at them to call the cops, to run away, to do something… but in all truth, why call the cops when you know they can’t help you? Why run when it will only show your weakness and land you a bullet in your back? Blaise has more sense than I ever would have in her shoes, and though the going is tough and she’s finds herself in a very precarious situation, she continues on as best as she can. And that is pure courage.
Originally I didn’t want to pick up this novel. I was afraid it would focus on servitude sex and the downtrodden woman. But it doesn’t—Blaise isn’t raped and any mention of sex is more so glossed over. Instead, what this novel does do is show the very real truth about gang violence and the people who grow up surrounded by it. It shows the many dangers in life that a lot of us don’t even realize exist. And it breaks my heart, but this is one intense, powerful read if you really understand the truths behind it.
http://abookvacation.com/2014/02/06/a...
I have been extremely fortunate in life having grown up in a safe neighborhood with two loving parents that supported me in everything. I never had to worry for my safety when walking out the door, didn’t need to look over my shoulder at school, never had to know alternate routes to get home, worry about gunshots at all hours of the day, or whether there would be enough money coming in for my parents to pay the bills. I knew where my next meal was coming from, what colleges I wanted to go to, how I would pay for my education after high school, and that I could obtain my goals in life without much standing in my way.
Blaise Montgomery doesn’t live in a safe neighborhood. Her mother is a drug addict, her father is dead, and her grandmother works late hours and brings home little money. Leaving her house is a risky choice, day in and day out. In order to stay alive, Blaise has to know multiple ways around her community in case the ever present dangers of gang violence close off a route, or two. She has to know what hallways she can walk down and what stairwells to avoid in school if she wants to get home in one piece, with her virginity still intact. She worries about her grandmother who works too hard and doesn’t have enough money to feed Blaise, let alone herself. Blaise would love to go to college, but can barely scrape by in school because survival is on her mind 24/7. The present is all that matters, and she knows, just like everyone else in her neighborhood, that life ends all too soon. She’s seen people try to better themselves, try to get out, but most of them end up in body bags. So what’s the point?
While I have never experienced any of what Blaise experiences, the cold hard truth is that many, many children grow up in this exact environment, and as a high school teacher working on the cusp of the city, I’ve taught many of students in a similar situation. I didn’t used to know these places really existed, not until I became a teacher. If you don’t experience it, or you don’t know someone who has, it’s very easy to live in a bubble that just understand that there are many struggling to survive. And it’s a heartbreaking experience to realize that yes, this is real. Just because I haven’t lived it doesn’t mean it’s not. And while it’s easy to look down on people in these situations, saying they need to get an education, that they need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, that’s not a reality. What’s more important? Education or food? Education or life? Education or belonging?
If you look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, you’ll note that physiological needs come first, and then that of safety. People need to have their basic needs met—food, water, excretion, sleep— before they can move up the scale. If these needs are met, then safety takes over. Those who don’t feel safe on a regular basis are, therefore, unable to move up the scale. They’re unable to have true friendships, or focus on family, because the very real fear for their safety controls everything they do and think. This explains exactly what Blaise is dealing with on a very real level. She barely has any food—she’s hungry a lot of the time, and she’s scared for her safety. Her need level has plateaued between Physiological and Safety. But once she’s part of a gang, once she’s found her “family,” she’s able to move up to the Love and Belonging stage—a stage she’s been yearning to grasp for some time. So it’s no surprise that she joins a gang in her neighborhood—a gang that literally beats her into it as their hazing ritual to see if she’s tough enough to stand within their ranks. And it makes me sick, but I’ve found that this hazing experience is another truth in terms of gang life—one I first heard about when discussing life with my students over the past few years.
Within Core 9, Blaise fits in, and now she can begin to work towards self-esteem, confidence, achievement… except being in the gang doesn’t guarantee extreme safety, and as Blaise realizes fairly quickly, there is just as much to fear inside a gang than there is outside of it. So, she finds herself hovering between the Safety and Love/Belonging stage in the Hierarchy of Needs. Is it any wonder, then, that Blaise can’t focus on school? That she can’t foresee herself ever getting out of her ghetto alive, let alone bettering herself and going to college? While we may want to judge her, especially as the media likes to focus on the few amazing stories of those who “got out,” who “pulled themselves up by their boot straps,” this isn’t that story. This is the story of the many who are left behind. This is the story of those who can’t get out.
Of course, Blaise makes decisions that I hat—and so do her friends. Of course, I wanted to knock “some sense” into them as I read, to scream at them to call the cops, to run away, to do something… but in all truth, why call the cops when you know they can’t help you? Why run when it will only show your weakness and land you a bullet in your back? Blaise has more sense than I ever would have in her shoes, and though the going is tough and she’s finds herself in a very precarious situation, she continues on as best as she can. And that is pure courage.
Originally I didn’t want to pick up this novel. I was afraid it would focus on servitude sex and the downtrodden woman. But it doesn’t—Blaise isn’t raped and any mention of sex is more so glossed over. Instead, what this novel does do is show the very real truth about gang violence and the people who grow up surrounded by it. It shows the many dangers in life that a lot of us don’t even realize exist. And it breaks my heart, but this is one intense, powerful read if you really understand the truths behind it.
October 30, 2013
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
15-year-old Blaise lives in a bad neighbourhood, where gangs roam the streets, there are battles waged over drugs and territories, and even innocent bystanders get shot if they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Blaise lives with her grandmother who works herself to death every night trying to keep a roof over their heads. Blaise thinks that things would be easier if she joined a gang, and she’s set on joining C9.
Will life really be better as a gang member though? Will she survive the beating to get into the gang? And is being a ‘lure’ all she’s really worth?
This book started off strong, but I began to lose interest at the 30% mark, and by the 50% mark I felt like I was forcing myself to keep reading.
Blaise was an okay character, but I couldn’t help but think that she was stupid to join a gang. Admittedly she didn’t have a lot of money or options, but she was all her grandmother had, and although they didn’t have much, I didn’t think that joining a gang was her best option. Personally I thought she should be getting a part-time job or something, rather than getting involved in gangs and guns.
The other characters in this book were all just as stupid as Blaise as well unfortunately. We had her stupid friend who was dating someone from an opposing gang, which was going to get her killed, there was the kid who was selling drugs on someone else’s turf, who was going to get himself killed, and then there was the girl who thought that being gang raped by half the male members of the gang was a good initiation option.
Why did any of these kids feel the need to join a gang? Why not stay away from the whole business and try and keep your nose clean? Why not try to earn an honest living?
The storyline in this was okay, although the actually ‘becoming a lure’ part didn’t happen until around the 40% mark.
The writing in this was okay, and I did appreciate the little details that the author included that made this book feel authentic – like the fact that Blaise had removed the light bulb from her fridge so that ‘no shooter could catch (her) silhouette’.
I liked the action and detail at the start of the book, but by the 30% mark I had begun to feel bored, and by the 50% mark I felt like I was forcing myself to keep reading. By the 60% mark I didn’t really want to keep reading at all, and even after taking a break it was really hard to find the motivation to go on. I don’t know why as such, just that I was bored, and the story didn’t hold my interest. Maybe this was because I got sick of the constant stupidity of the characters who just seemed to get themselves into bigger and bigger messes, or maybe I just got sick of the constant threats on people’s lives over nothing.
The ending was also a bit of a let-down, as so much was left unanswered. I felt like the book just stopped, and nothing had really been resolved. I couldn’t quite believe that the book stopped where it stopped, but I have to say that I was glad that it was over as I was losing the will to live.
I don’t know if this will remain a standalone novel, or whether this will be a series, but if it is a series I won’t be continuing with it. I’ve had enough.
4.5 out of 10.
15-year-old Blaise lives in a bad neighbourhood, where gangs roam the streets, there are battles waged over drugs and territories, and even innocent bystanders get shot if they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Blaise lives with her grandmother who works herself to death every night trying to keep a roof over their heads. Blaise thinks that things would be easier if she joined a gang, and she’s set on joining C9.
Will life really be better as a gang member though? Will she survive the beating to get into the gang? And is being a ‘lure’ all she’s really worth?
This book started off strong, but I began to lose interest at the 30% mark, and by the 50% mark I felt like I was forcing myself to keep reading.
Blaise was an okay character, but I couldn’t help but think that she was stupid to join a gang. Admittedly she didn’t have a lot of money or options, but she was all her grandmother had, and although they didn’t have much, I didn’t think that joining a gang was her best option. Personally I thought she should be getting a part-time job or something, rather than getting involved in gangs and guns.
The other characters in this book were all just as stupid as Blaise as well unfortunately. We had her stupid friend who was dating someone from an opposing gang, which was going to get her killed, there was the kid who was selling drugs on someone else’s turf, who was going to get himself killed, and then there was the girl who thought that being gang raped by half the male members of the gang was a good initiation option.
Why did any of these kids feel the need to join a gang? Why not stay away from the whole business and try and keep your nose clean? Why not try to earn an honest living?
The storyline in this was okay, although the actually ‘becoming a lure’ part didn’t happen until around the 40% mark.
The writing in this was okay, and I did appreciate the little details that the author included that made this book feel authentic – like the fact that Blaise had removed the light bulb from her fridge so that ‘no shooter could catch (her) silhouette’.
I liked the action and detail at the start of the book, but by the 30% mark I had begun to feel bored, and by the 50% mark I felt like I was forcing myself to keep reading. By the 60% mark I didn’t really want to keep reading at all, and even after taking a break it was really hard to find the motivation to go on. I don’t know why as such, just that I was bored, and the story didn’t hold my interest. Maybe this was because I got sick of the constant stupidity of the characters who just seemed to get themselves into bigger and bigger messes, or maybe I just got sick of the constant threats on people’s lives over nothing.
The ending was also a bit of a let-down, as so much was left unanswered. I felt like the book just stopped, and nothing had really been resolved. I couldn’t quite believe that the book stopped where it stopped, but I have to say that I was glad that it was over as I was losing the will to live.
I don’t know if this will remain a standalone novel, or whether this will be a series, but if it is a series I won’t be continuing with it. I’ve had enough.
4.5 out of 10.
April 25, 2014
This was an interesting book, definitely not my usual fare, but it shows you just how well a cover can lure. Great title, art that draws you in. Not that I'm judging or anything. ;)
It's probably because I'm such a dystopia girl, but when I first started this book, I was totally seeing a world different from the one I lived in, in some kind of basically lawless state, where girls know they can't get caught by rival groups and are ducking to dodge bullets on a normal night. But these could actually be the normal streets of the Projects, a world I definitely don't live in, but totally know really exists around here (though the realities luckily escape me). It just took me a few chapters to realize it.
The other weird thing was that I wasn't sure how old these kids were, and I thought the book was going to take a strange twist where it revealed these were actually elementary school kids or something. I don't think that actually happened, and I assume that they are high school, what with the talk of luring and school dances and such, but like I said, I started out with some assumptions about this book that weren't based on anything in particular. Which is what makes it fun!
But overall, great book, great story. Blaise is definitely someone you can sympathize with, and her experiences and decisions, while perhaps not totally on par with the reality, were fascinating. Her struggles to find the right move to make when all the options are bad choices really made the book.
It's probably because I'm such a dystopia girl, but when I first started this book, I was totally seeing a world different from the one I lived in, in some kind of basically lawless state, where girls know they can't get caught by rival groups and are ducking to dodge bullets on a normal night. But these could actually be the normal streets of the Projects, a world I definitely don't live in, but totally know really exists around here (though the realities luckily escape me). It just took me a few chapters to realize it.
The other weird thing was that I wasn't sure how old these kids were, and I thought the book was going to take a strange twist where it revealed these were actually elementary school kids or something. I don't think that actually happened, and I assume that they are high school, what with the talk of luring and school dances and such, but like I said, I started out with some assumptions about this book that weren't based on anything in particular. Which is what makes it fun!
But overall, great book, great story. Blaise is definitely someone you can sympathize with, and her experiences and decisions, while perhaps not totally on par with the reality, were fascinating. Her struggles to find the right move to make when all the options are bad choices really made the book.
March 13, 2014
Blaise Montgomery, a pretty waspy-sounding name for a home-girl gangster, survives the hard streets of DC navigating between a psychotic gang leader and the two boys-next-door who are both devoted to her. Nothing rings authentic in this curious blend of urban fiction/teen drama. Not sure if being a gangleader/drug dealer/killer interferes with schoolwork or not, but I'm pretty sure Trek wouldn't still be in school.
July 2, 2014
For fans of Walter Dean Myers, Coe Booth, and Jason Reynolds. A gritty novel about gangs, families, and tough choices.
November 4, 2018
The Lure by Lynne Ewing is about Blaise Montgomery, a fifteen year old girl who lives with her grandma. All Blaise wants to do throughout the book is get enough money to support her grandmother and care for her. Although the neighborhood where they are from, just outside of Washington D.C., does not always allow that cause a stray bullet can take the life of a kid trying to go to school. Blaise knows how dangerous the neighborhood was and has always had a few close friends that have helped her through any situation. Rico and Satch are the two main ones that are with her throughout the book, both of them had really rough lives and turned to gangs as their family. Blaise eventually will too, Core 9 is the gang in which Satch, Rico, and Blaise are in, although she is sent to a very dangerous task. Lure leaders or anyone else who has done anything to harm Core 9 so other guys can either beat them up or worse, shoot them. After Blaise had seen a little boy get shot during a gang fight in a convenience store, she wanted out of the gang. The only bad part is there is no way without running away and Blaise cannot do that and leave her grandma in danger. That is when Blaise realized the only way for her to get out is to shoot the leader of Core 9. Now she faces a decision, but you will have to read the book to find out what Blaise does. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Lynne Ewing as an author or just loves realistic fiction, because she truly does not hide any pain or feelings that Blaise goes through.
June 5, 2017
There's no doubt about it that this book held my attention and the suspense definitely picks up at the end. My high school YA readers would definitely pick this up and read it. It's gritty and edgy. I'm curious to hear what they would say about how authentic the gang life is portrayed here. The characters are described well to help readers connect. More background on Blaise, the main character, would've been good. The ending did feel a little rushed but there's enough suspense to keep you moving right along. You just have to not stop and over analyze all the idiosyncrasies that might seem too perfectly lined up or unrealistic. I always look for hope in books focused on inner city street life. I feel like an element of hope helps provide a new perspective to students who are in similar places. There's just a dash of hope at the end which could make for good conversation but I wish that hope would've been building a little more throughout the story. Overall an interesting read.
Currently reading
November 8, 2019 This book is about a Fifteen year old Blaise Montgomery lives in the gritty outskirts of Washington, DC, where a stray bullet can steal your life on the way to school. Drugs, guns, and gangs are the only ways to survive. And the main character and his friends became a gang for safety, money, and love.
The book was established in 2014. It's been quite awhile now. The book is fiction, and it talks about how life was in Washington DC. Its was so dangerous going to school because one bullet can take you life on the way to school. I liked the book because it talks about real life and how dangerous it was back then.
The book was established in 2014. It's been quite awhile now. The book is fiction, and it talks about how life was in Washington DC. Its was so dangerous going to school because one bullet can take you life on the way to school. I liked the book because it talks about real life and how dangerous it was back then.
May 28, 2020
I immediately wanted to read this books because reviews said for fans of Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (a book I absolutely love) but they are not read alikes.
This title is very edgy and teens will read about and some resonate with the life Blaise lives. She lives in a gang stricken neighborhood where rival gangs tag and seek out others to kill. Blaise feels her only option in life, what little of it she will live, is to join the gang. I do wish there was a more hopeful message in this book but the end feels very rushed.
This title is very edgy and teens will read about and some resonate with the life Blaise lives. She lives in a gang stricken neighborhood where rival gangs tag and seek out others to kill. Blaise feels her only option in life, what little of it she will live, is to join the gang. I do wish there was a more hopeful message in this book but the end feels very rushed.
March 1, 2020
Good book parts are fast paced and exciting others are slow and boring.But still a great read.
November 17, 2020
I really disliked this book so much...
April 13, 2022
My favorite book ever
February 17, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: The Lure is a well-written story that failed to hook me in. It fell a little flat in my eyes, considering the potential of the plotline.
Opening Sentence: The night heat melted over me, the quiet unsettling since the laughter had stopped.
The Review:
The Lure tells us about Blaise, new member of one of the three nearby street gangs. She has been chosen to be the lure, to seduce members of rival gangs to hurt or kill. All Blaise wants is money to give her grandmother’s rest on her numbered days, so she doesn’t have to work when she can barely walk. But among this life of betrayal and violence, Blaise will have to fight for it.
To be honest, this was a very slow read for me. It was hard to get into the characters and oftentimes I didn’t understand what was happening. There were lots of characters and a plotline with almost a confusing amount of action. However, there were some pros.
Blaise is a good character. She has a dark side, but for the most part has a strong goal and the perfect balance of strength and weakness. However, Satch and Rico, I weren’t feeling any connection with them (they’re two members of the love triangle). I tried to be open-minded and enjoy their personalities, but neither struck me as my favorite characters. Melissa and Kaylee I liked. And the antagonist, Trek, he was a good villain, extremely creepy and cunning.
I never really got into this book. It took awhile for me to read because when I like a novel, I won’t stop reading, but after failed attempts to connect with it I stopped trying. It didn’t have the element that really hooks and “lures” me in (see what I did there?).
Sure, someone else may like it. Someone else may appreciate the things that irritated me. However, be it as it is, I don’t have a lot of positives. It was interesting and had a unique setting, and a few of the characters were pretty awesome, but other than that I’m coming up pretty blank.
The Lure is an okay novel with definite pros and cons. I wasn’t a fan, to be blunt, but I’m sure that some people will like it because it isn’t horribly written or anything. Try it out and see if you enjoy it, then we can compare how we felt about it!
Notable Scene:
Slowly, my strength returned. I balanced precariously on quaking legs and faced Tara, who used my blood to write Core 9 across my face, each letter stinging my raw skin.
When she finished, Tanya began to jump from one foot to the other, back and forth, faster and faster, pounding the ground in praise of me. The other girls joined in and stomped with her until the earth hollered with a stampede of feet. Joy raced through me. I had done it. My heart soared with pride.
FTC Advisory: Balzar+Bray/HarperCollins provided me with a copy of The Lure. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: The Lure is a well-written story that failed to hook me in. It fell a little flat in my eyes, considering the potential of the plotline.
Opening Sentence: The night heat melted over me, the quiet unsettling since the laughter had stopped.
The Review:
The Lure tells us about Blaise, new member of one of the three nearby street gangs. She has been chosen to be the lure, to seduce members of rival gangs to hurt or kill. All Blaise wants is money to give her grandmother’s rest on her numbered days, so she doesn’t have to work when she can barely walk. But among this life of betrayal and violence, Blaise will have to fight for it.
To be honest, this was a very slow read for me. It was hard to get into the characters and oftentimes I didn’t understand what was happening. There were lots of characters and a plotline with almost a confusing amount of action. However, there were some pros.
Blaise is a good character. She has a dark side, but for the most part has a strong goal and the perfect balance of strength and weakness. However, Satch and Rico, I weren’t feeling any connection with them (they’re two members of the love triangle). I tried to be open-minded and enjoy their personalities, but neither struck me as my favorite characters. Melissa and Kaylee I liked. And the antagonist, Trek, he was a good villain, extremely creepy and cunning.
I never really got into this book. It took awhile for me to read because when I like a novel, I won’t stop reading, but after failed attempts to connect with it I stopped trying. It didn’t have the element that really hooks and “lures” me in (see what I did there?).
Sure, someone else may like it. Someone else may appreciate the things that irritated me. However, be it as it is, I don’t have a lot of positives. It was interesting and had a unique setting, and a few of the characters were pretty awesome, but other than that I’m coming up pretty blank.
The Lure is an okay novel with definite pros and cons. I wasn’t a fan, to be blunt, but I’m sure that some people will like it because it isn’t horribly written or anything. Try it out and see if you enjoy it, then we can compare how we felt about it!
Notable Scene:
Slowly, my strength returned. I balanced precariously on quaking legs and faced Tara, who used my blood to write Core 9 across my face, each letter stinging my raw skin.
When she finished, Tanya began to jump from one foot to the other, back and forth, faster and faster, pounding the ground in praise of me. The other girls joined in and stomped with her until the earth hollered with a stampede of feet. Joy raced through me. I had done it. My heart soared with pride.
FTC Advisory: Balzar+Bray/HarperCollins provided me with a copy of The Lure. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
February 1, 2014
The Lure tells the story of Blaise, a 15 year old girl who is trying to navigate the world of guns, gangs and drive-by shootings while searching for security and stability in her life. In an attempt to find some of that security and stability, she joins Core 9, one of the local gangs, in hopes that they can help protect her and help with her aging grandmother. Unfortunately, Trek, the head of the gang, has another plan for her - he wants to use her to “lure” out his enemies, putting Blaise right in the line of fire.
First, I just want to start out with a mini-rant on the marketing of this book. I take real issue with the way this book is described as “gritty” and “sexyl”. Sexual violence, coercion and manipulation is not sexy! I actually think that Ewing shows that gang life, and especially Blaise’s life and her job of being a “lure”, is anything but sexy, as she worries about her grandmother, is constantly hungry, and fears for her life. The description reads almost like a romanticization of gang life, which is quite contradictory to the message this novel sends! Also, I’ve been noticing lately that “gritty” is often used to describe books that have characters of colour. A coincidence? I sadly think not.
Back to the actual book, shall we? It started out on the right track: it was engaging and the pace was well done, but somewhere along the way it lost its footing. For me, I think part of this was due to a lack of character development. I didn’t feel any emotional depth from the characters. I empathized with Blaise’s situation, but I didn’t feel a connection with her, or any of the characters really. It became a bit of a show versus tell situation, where we often told how Blaise felt without it truly being shown to the reader. I wanted to be moved by the story, I did! There were some upsetting moments (, but I wasn’t moved as much as I expected myself to be. I think both the stilted writing and the characterization prevented me from being drawn into these characters and their lives.
To read the rest of this review, please visit my blog Bookish Comforts (review will go live 02.03.2014)!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
First, I just want to start out with a mini-rant on the marketing of this book. I take real issue with the way this book is described as “gritty” and “sexyl”. Sexual violence, coercion and manipulation is not sexy! I actually think that Ewing shows that gang life, and especially Blaise’s life and her job of being a “lure”, is anything but sexy, as she worries about her grandmother, is constantly hungry, and fears for her life. The description reads almost like a romanticization of gang life, which is quite contradictory to the message this novel sends! Also, I’ve been noticing lately that “gritty” is often used to describe books that have characters of colour. A coincidence? I sadly think not.
Back to the actual book, shall we? It started out on the right track: it was engaging and the pace was well done, but somewhere along the way it lost its footing. For me, I think part of this was due to a lack of character development. I didn’t feel any emotional depth from the characters. I empathized with Blaise’s situation, but I didn’t feel a connection with her, or any of the characters really. It became a bit of a show versus tell situation, where we often told how Blaise felt without it truly being shown to the reader. I wanted to be moved by the story, I did! There were some upsetting moments (, but I wasn’t moved as much as I expected myself to be. I think both the stilted writing and the characterization prevented me from being drawn into these characters and their lives.
To read the rest of this review, please visit my blog Bookish Comforts (review will go live 02.03.2014)!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2014
2.5
Huge thank you to Balzer + Bray and Edelweiss for this advance reader copy.
Considering all the low reviews for this book, it pains me to be another one tossing it into the pot. Ewing's book has tons of potential, a wonderfully dark, gang-infested world, and an intriguing premise... that could have all been presented better.
Considering my interest in gang related narratives in YA, The Lure hit that note exceptionally well and I felt like Ewing did a great job of understanding the mentality and the cause and effect factors of what it means to be a part of a unique lifestyle. However, the writing is exceptionally dull, the descriptions are often flat, so while the intentions of a great story are there, the writing doesn't heighten.
Another issue is how predictable the narrative is and how the characters add to that level of predictability. From the very beginning of the novel we know there's going to be a love triangle, someone is going to get sacked, and bad decisions are going to be made. Even worse is that Blaise is just not a character you can sympathize with considering how poor her decisions are and the fact that she doesn't see consequence, which is very baffling at times. In this type of story you think that consequence is something to learn from or be showcased and a lot of the time it's not strongly represented. There are glimpses of great story moments, but are marred by the awkward dialogue. When I think gangsters, I think slang, and it was odd to not really see any.
Sometimes instances in this book felt flat or unrealistic, which is a real shame considering how realistic a lot of this narrative is supposed to feel. I think my issues with The Lure was that I wanted to see a strong, more cohesive narrative that just never came to be. I wanted to like the characters, but found them difficult to like. The Lure isn't a bad book, it's just one of those books with tons of potential that is never really realized.
Huge thank you to Balzer + Bray and Edelweiss for this advance reader copy.
Considering all the low reviews for this book, it pains me to be another one tossing it into the pot. Ewing's book has tons of potential, a wonderfully dark, gang-infested world, and an intriguing premise... that could have all been presented better.
Considering my interest in gang related narratives in YA, The Lure hit that note exceptionally well and I felt like Ewing did a great job of understanding the mentality and the cause and effect factors of what it means to be a part of a unique lifestyle. However, the writing is exceptionally dull, the descriptions are often flat, so while the intentions of a great story are there, the writing doesn't heighten.
Another issue is how predictable the narrative is and how the characters add to that level of predictability. From the very beginning of the novel we know there's going to be a love triangle, someone is going to get sacked, and bad decisions are going to be made. Even worse is that Blaise is just not a character you can sympathize with considering how poor her decisions are and the fact that she doesn't see consequence, which is very baffling at times. In this type of story you think that consequence is something to learn from or be showcased and a lot of the time it's not strongly represented. There are glimpses of great story moments, but are marred by the awkward dialogue. When I think gangsters, I think slang, and it was odd to not really see any.
Sometimes instances in this book felt flat or unrealistic, which is a real shame considering how realistic a lot of this narrative is supposed to feel. I think my issues with The Lure was that I wanted to see a strong, more cohesive narrative that just never came to be. I wanted to like the characters, but found them difficult to like. The Lure isn't a bad book, it's just one of those books with tons of potential that is never really realized.
February 12, 2014
Originally posted on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Nichole.
I’m being totally honest here, when I first received The Lure in the mail, I didn’t want to read it. It was contemporary, about gangs, and I knew that someone was going to be killed off at some point in time. Three things that really don’t capture my interest all that much. I was a sucker for the cover, though, and I decided to pick it up and give it a shot. And, man, am I glad I did.
The Lure is one of the most beautiful and heart wrenching books that I have ever read. I laughed, I cried….I wanted to throw the book across the room several times. Needless to say, this is one that evokes so. many. feels. Seriously….if you’re a big contemporary fan…make sure that you have some tissues handy. There were times when I was reading this book that I actually wondered if Lynne Ewing went undercover as a gangster to write this book. I don’t know how she did it. Honestly…I don’t know how to do anything but gush about this book. It was just so good!
Every single character in The Lure was spot on. I was surprised at how head over heels in love I fell with some of the characters simply because they were gangsters up to no good, and I didn’t think I could like anyone like that. I was wrong. I loved them. I’m a little ashamed to say that I even loved the bad guys. Not because they were bad, but I loved them because they felt so real. That’s the thing. Everyone in this book was so real. I often forget that I was even reading a book.
I could sit here and talk about every single aspect of The Lure but all you’re going to hear me say is how great it is. It was such an amazing book. I really really really really hope that there’s a sequel! I guess covers do say a lot about a book, because if it wasn’t for the cover I probably wouldn’t have read it….and let me tell you….this was awwwwesome! Go pick up your copy today!
I’m being totally honest here, when I first received The Lure in the mail, I didn’t want to read it. It was contemporary, about gangs, and I knew that someone was going to be killed off at some point in time. Three things that really don’t capture my interest all that much. I was a sucker for the cover, though, and I decided to pick it up and give it a shot. And, man, am I glad I did.
The Lure is one of the most beautiful and heart wrenching books that I have ever read. I laughed, I cried….I wanted to throw the book across the room several times. Needless to say, this is one that evokes so. many. feels. Seriously….if you’re a big contemporary fan…make sure that you have some tissues handy. There were times when I was reading this book that I actually wondered if Lynne Ewing went undercover as a gangster to write this book. I don’t know how she did it. Honestly…I don’t know how to do anything but gush about this book. It was just so good!
Every single character in The Lure was spot on. I was surprised at how head over heels in love I fell with some of the characters simply because they were gangsters up to no good, and I didn’t think I could like anyone like that. I was wrong. I loved them. I’m a little ashamed to say that I even loved the bad guys. Not because they were bad, but I loved them because they felt so real. That’s the thing. Everyone in this book was so real. I often forget that I was even reading a book.
I could sit here and talk about every single aspect of The Lure but all you’re going to hear me say is how great it is. It was such an amazing book. I really really really really hope that there’s a sequel! I guess covers do say a lot about a book, because if it wasn’t for the cover I probably wouldn’t have read it….and let me tell you….this was awwwwesome! Go pick up your copy today!
April 22, 2014
Fifteen-year-old Blaise Montgomery lives in the Borderlands neighborhood outside Washington D.C. that is home to three nefarious, violent gangs. Despite the danger, Blaise and her friends know that in their neighborhood, turning to gangs will bring them what they desperately need to survive: money, safety and love.
Blaise is tired of watching her elderly grandmother work herself to death to provide for her and knows the only way to start providing for her future is to jump into the local Core 9 gang. Despite the near-death beating her initiation required, Blaise is proud to be the newest member, especially when two of best friends join too. As expected, her new life brings her a new family that offers security, money and a makeover with new clothes and make-up.
After the leader Trek sees how beautiful Blaise looks when she’s all dolled up, he asks her to be his new “lure.” Even though she’s never thought of herself as pretty, Blaise is excited and nervous to be the sexy bait to hook the attention of unsuspecting rival gang members which will allow Core 9 members to exact revenge.
Despite the initial thrill of her risky new job, Blaise quickly realizes that she is putting her own life on the line in increasingly dangerous lures as Trek keeps upping her assignments. Blaise starts wondering how she can ever get out of being a lure because she knows it’s only a matter of time before an enemy gang takes her life as payback. Yet Blaise knows all too well that being in a gang is a lifetime membership, even if your life is cut way too short.
Teens who like realistic fiction involving gang life with a bit of romance will enjoy this fast-paced novel that has you rooting for Blaise to succeed despite all the obstacles in her way of having a happy ending. Recommended for teens who like the Drama High series and Walter Dean Myers.
For grades 9 and up.
Blaise is tired of watching her elderly grandmother work herself to death to provide for her and knows the only way to start providing for her future is to jump into the local Core 9 gang. Despite the near-death beating her initiation required, Blaise is proud to be the newest member, especially when two of best friends join too. As expected, her new life brings her a new family that offers security, money and a makeover with new clothes and make-up.
After the leader Trek sees how beautiful Blaise looks when she’s all dolled up, he asks her to be his new “lure.” Even though she’s never thought of herself as pretty, Blaise is excited and nervous to be the sexy bait to hook the attention of unsuspecting rival gang members which will allow Core 9 members to exact revenge.
Despite the initial thrill of her risky new job, Blaise quickly realizes that she is putting her own life on the line in increasingly dangerous lures as Trek keeps upping her assignments. Blaise starts wondering how she can ever get out of being a lure because she knows it’s only a matter of time before an enemy gang takes her life as payback. Yet Blaise knows all too well that being in a gang is a lifetime membership, even if your life is cut way too short.
Teens who like realistic fiction involving gang life with a bit of romance will enjoy this fast-paced novel that has you rooting for Blaise to succeed despite all the obstacles in her way of having a happy ending. Recommended for teens who like the Drama High series and Walter Dean Myers.
For grades 9 and up.
May 3, 2014
Blaise is such a cool name. Like, I am slightly jealous of her name. Anyway, Blaise Montgomery lives just outside of Washington D.C, and it's a hard life. Her grandma works two jobs, and barely spends any money because she tries to put it towards Blaise's college fund. In desperate need of a family and money, Blaise takes up an offer to be beaten into Core 9, the most notorious gang in her town. Her best friends Rico and Satch warn her against it, and they had reason to. A little while after, Trek, the leader of the gang, asks Blaise to dress in provocative clothes and lure other gang members to their impending doom. All the money and power he offers her sways Blaise's decision, and she agrees. Will Blaise regret this decision-and possibly pay with her life?
When I opened to the first page, I was a bit wary. I've never read a book like this. At first, the read was very tedious, and I would have to force myself to focus on the book. Then, things started picking up. I liked Blaise as a character, although I couldn't really relate to her. I mean, if someone gave me the chance to make money by becoming a "lure" like Blaise had, I would've gave a very firm "No" and then run for my life. I can say that I didn't like Rico. He was a bit too explosive and impulsive for my cautious, thirteen year old self.
The ending hurt me. It was unexpected, but it was expected. It's like a tiny part of your brain was like Hey! This is totally going to happen. And you brush the idea aside. 50 pages later, said thing happens and you get surprised, but not entirely. I hope that made sense. I was trying to describe it without spoiling it. Anyway, the ending was well written, and it made me kind of happy to read such a good ending to such a good book. Recommended to teens 13-17, The Lure has definitely earned a place on my bookshelf.
November 13, 2014
The book "The Lure" is about two groups called the core 9's and the hippies. These two groups are beefing because they both want one girl to join them but she doesn't know which group to join.One day she is walking with her friends when her friends say something that convinces her to join the core 9's. She joins the core 9 group and then she gets jumped by the girls from the other group. She then gets her squad and then they jump one of their girls. This then turn into a all out war between the two girls. One girl gets shot and another girl ends up inn the hospital critically injured.
What i liked about this book is that it had a lot of mystery ans suspense which kept me guessing what would happen next. I also like this book because the author kept me engaged i the book and not lose me throughout the book. Another reason that i like this book is because i love books that contains drama. What i disliked about this book is that it was to short for me. I also disliked parts of the book because it kept on changing the problems. An example of this is when the girl was in the house and was looking for the dog food when she finds a secret door which had all of the dope dealers drugs but later in the scene she talks about not wanting to be around people that sell dope.
I recommend this book to all the people that like drama, suspense, and mystery. I really recommend this book to people because this book is really engaging and focused throughout. I think that all readers would enjoy this book because it contains a series of genres and fiction. It is also good for people that like books that are based off of real life experiences.
What i liked about this book is that it had a lot of mystery ans suspense which kept me guessing what would happen next. I also like this book because the author kept me engaged i the book and not lose me throughout the book. Another reason that i like this book is because i love books that contains drama. What i disliked about this book is that it was to short for me. I also disliked parts of the book because it kept on changing the problems. An example of this is when the girl was in the house and was looking for the dog food when she finds a secret door which had all of the dope dealers drugs but later in the scene she talks about not wanting to be around people that sell dope.
I recommend this book to all the people that like drama, suspense, and mystery. I really recommend this book to people because this book is really engaging and focused throughout. I think that all readers would enjoy this book because it contains a series of genres and fiction. It is also good for people that like books that are based off of real life experiences.
August 20, 2014
Describe The Lure:
bland
anti-climatic
unrealistic
boring
tiresome
Ewing did more time building up than finishing up the plot. I get the message behind the novel, but it started too fast, read too slow and ended too quickly. The reader wasn't given a proper introduction and we as readers are all of a sudden thrust into Blaise's world. The ending felt completely rushed and I wish there was more character development. Obviously Ewing had too many characters and tried to give all a little attention but she didn't give enough attention to any of them. There wasn't a real clear plot to the story.
This novel was obviously intended for YA because the heroine is overly heroic and just plain...bland. I would have rather read a slash story about Satch and Rico. I gave it two stars cause it was an interesting read. Maybe her other books are better. I didn't find anything "sexy" about the novel ecept for the author telling us it's sexy. It wasn't gritty, compelling, nor life-changing.
I think there are better YA books out there. The climax was a disappointment, that's exactly what I felt at the end of the novel. Looking at the author's profile page I now see why it's so damn unrealistic. She looks like she has never lived a day of this life she's writing about in her life. Ewing watched a couple episodes of The Wire and decided to write something based off that.
Don't waste your time.
bland
anti-climatic
unrealistic
boring
tiresome
Ewing did more time building up than finishing up the plot. I get the message behind the novel, but it started too fast, read too slow and ended too quickly. The reader wasn't given a proper introduction and we as readers are all of a sudden thrust into Blaise's world. The ending felt completely rushed and I wish there was more character development. Obviously Ewing had too many characters and tried to give all a little attention but she didn't give enough attention to any of them. There wasn't a real clear plot to the story.
This novel was obviously intended for YA because the heroine is overly heroic and just plain...bland. I would have rather read a slash story about Satch and Rico. I gave it two stars cause it was an interesting read. Maybe her other books are better. I didn't find anything "sexy" about the novel ecept for the author telling us it's sexy. It wasn't gritty, compelling, nor life-changing.
I think there are better YA books out there. The climax was a disappointment, that's exactly what I felt at the end of the novel. Looking at the author's profile page I now see why it's so damn unrealistic. She looks like she has never lived a day of this life she's writing about in her life. Ewing watched a couple episodes of The Wire and decided to write something based off that.
Don't waste your time.
December 30, 2015
Blaise had led a tough life. Her dad died when she was young, her mom has been strung out on drugs for most of it, and she lives with her grandma. Her grandma is getting old and can’t pay the bills, especially because she’s saving money due to her belief that Blaise will be getting out of their dangerous community and going to college.
But Blaise knows better. She knows that her only chance at being saved and becoming a part of a real family is to join a gang. Her best friends, Rico and Satch, are members of Core 9, a gang in the DC area. After Blaise is jumped in, she’s sure that her grandma’s worries about money are over. When the head of the gang, Trek, asks her to be the Lure, she’s confused. Her friends always joke that Blaise is more of a guy, because of her baggy clothes and because she’s a fighter. But once the physical transformation is done by Blaise’s good friend Melissa (and Trek’s girlfriend), Blaise discovers that she’s more like her mom than she thinks. She can lure guys for the gang, but at what cost? Once a child is killed in a retaliation gone bad, Blaise questions her loyalty and wonders how she can stop Trek before he murders again.
A good quick pick. The cover is good - black graffiti-like writing for the title with a girls’ face in the lettering, all on a bright yellow background. The typeface is good, the white space is average, but it has an easy-to-follow plot with interesting characters. And all under 300 pages!
But Blaise knows better. She knows that her only chance at being saved and becoming a part of a real family is to join a gang. Her best friends, Rico and Satch, are members of Core 9, a gang in the DC area. After Blaise is jumped in, she’s sure that her grandma’s worries about money are over. When the head of the gang, Trek, asks her to be the Lure, she’s confused. Her friends always joke that Blaise is more of a guy, because of her baggy clothes and because she’s a fighter. But once the physical transformation is done by Blaise’s good friend Melissa (and Trek’s girlfriend), Blaise discovers that she’s more like her mom than she thinks. She can lure guys for the gang, but at what cost? Once a child is killed in a retaliation gone bad, Blaise questions her loyalty and wonders how she can stop Trek before he murders again.
A good quick pick. The cover is good - black graffiti-like writing for the title with a girls’ face in the lettering, all on a bright yellow background. The typeface is good, the white space is average, but it has an easy-to-follow plot with interesting characters. And all under 300 pages!
March 26, 2015
The Lure depicts the life of teenagers in the outskirts of Washington, D. C. They live where living is not easy. There is never enough money for the essentials of daily living and life is dangerous because gangs rule the neighborhoods. So Blaise and her friends join a gang, Core 9, in order to survive. But they find out that life as gang members isn’t always trouble-free either, since there are always ongoing rivalries between opposing gangs. And it gets even more dangerous when Trek the leader of Core 9 asks Blaise to become the “lure” who will help beguile unsuspecting enemies from a rival gang in order for Core 9 to seek retaliation. And then danger escalates for Blaise and her friends as Trek, the leader of Core 9, shows his dangerously corrupted need for power and control. Blaise begins to see that being a part of Core 9 may not be in her best interests. But can she redeem herself without causing her own demise.
This YA novel explores gangs from the female member’s viewpoint. And even though gang members are respected and feared, life is still not uncomplicated. Since I am not familiar with gang activity I would unfortunately have to believe that this fictionalized account may be factually representative of the grim life of a teenage gang member.
This YA novel explores gangs from the female member’s viewpoint. And even though gang members are respected and feared, life is still not uncomplicated. Since I am not familiar with gang activity I would unfortunately have to believe that this fictionalized account may be factually representative of the grim life of a teenage gang member.
February 9, 2014
The Lure was not my cup of tea. There were some moments that I felt I was in the book and wanted to be there; however, there were more moments of me being completely disconnected with the story. I have read gang related books before, but this one seemed rushed and almost missing the reflection of the life in a gang. It was always, "this is the way it is..." The main character doesn't realize that there are other ways to handle a situation until it's too late to matter (at least overall). At the end I felt she did what she should have done 25% into the novel, you know before all the major blood shed. I would still recommend this book, because it was an easy read and some people might enjoy it more than I did.
Thank You Edelweiss.
Thank You Edelweiss.
May 30, 2014
I won this book as an advanced reader's copy from Firstreads. After the first few chapters, I found these kids unbelievable as gangsters. They didn't swear or use slang and always went to school. Then I re-read the back and discovered that it was written for 14 year olds. After this, I relaxed and began to enjoy the story. Blaise tries to make the best decisions that she knows to help her grandmother and to keep herself safe, but she doesn't realize how dangerous that gang life is or what it will force her to do.
December 2, 2015
This book was great, but not quite amazing. I loved all the suspense it put into every single scene. Even if the main character Blaize was walking down the street or walking up another characters boobie-traped stair case. It was always written suspensefully and in a very detailed way. I also loved the issues put into the book, and how it is not very cliche. Yes almost every book has a love story, but this book's love story was in the backround. It really showed this issues in life, especially in a bad neighborhood, and how who you are dating is not the main concern of everyone's life.
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